The ink used on money is specifically designed to be highly secure and difficult to counterfeit.
Types of Ink Used on Money:
- Intaglio Ink: This is the most common type of ink used for printing money. It's a thick, oily ink that creates raised lettering and images.
- Metallic Ink: This ink contains small metallic particles that give the money a shimmering effect and add another layer of security.
- UV-Reactive Ink: This ink glows under ultraviolet light, making it harder to counterfeit.
- Microprinting: This is a technique that uses very tiny lettering that is almost impossible to replicate without specialized equipment.
Security Features:
These inks are just one part of a comprehensive security system that helps to protect money from counterfeiting. Other features include:
- Watermarks: These are faint images that can be seen when holding the bill up to the light.
- Security Threads: These are thin, embedded threads that can be seen when holding the bill up to the light.
- Color-Shifting Ink: This ink changes color depending on the angle from which it is viewed.
By using a combination of these security features, governments and central banks make it very difficult to counterfeit money.